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Neon-red letters that spell the new name of the massive office-and-retail complex planned for the former Jehovah’s Witnesses headquarters could float above Brooklyn Heights where the Watchtower letters once hovered, renderings show.

Workers tore down the 15-foot characters that formed the religious group’s iconic sign from the framework atop the Columbia Heights edifice last December as part of its new owners’ — who include President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — plan to transform the building into the multi-use space dubbed Panorama.

And a drawing on the property’s website shows very similar letters spelling out the new name atop its East River-facing roof. A rep for the developer said that sign is only hypothetical because whatever eventually gets hoisted onto the now-barren framework — which still features the blinking time and temperature — must first get the green light from the Department of Buildings.

Brooklyn officials seek to fend off ‘massive failure of government’

Brooklyn communities abutting the BQE will face local traffic calamities for years during reconstruction of Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) and roadway under the Brooklyn Heights Promenade if Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others in Albany do not intercede immediately to allow a fast-track contracting process. Officials at a rally in Brooklyn Heights on Friday said they are working now to head off the looming crisis. The seven-year reconstruction, already in the planning stage, must be completed by 2026. If it’s not, the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) says it will likely have to divert 16,000 trucks daily from the highway onto local streets, causing jams that will reverberate from Brooklyn to Staten Island and Queens. -Brooklyn Daily Eagle

David Kaplan, who was issued Cadman Plaza North Stock Certificate #1, passed away last week at the age of 97. Mr. Kaplan was given a special citation at CPN’s 50th Anniversary Gala in June, 2017. At the event, his son Larry Kaplan was presented with a framed piece commemorating his father’s distinction as being our “First Shareholder.” Our deepest sympathies go out to his family. He was one of a kind.

Brooklyn Paper reports that Court Street Office Supply, a “staple” of the neighborhood since 1982, will close on February 20th. Owner, Jacob Gutman explained, “Our challenge has been the shift in how people purchase things these days,” he said. “Our decision to close the store has nothing to do with rent.” Instead, the almost forty year old family business will focus on their workspace-design aspect of the company. Gutman went on to say, “We set up custom workstations and configure spaces for all kinds of offices, medical practices, hospitality companies, you name it.” So while the brick and mortar store will close, Court Street will continue to operate the office supplies, arts & crafts and toys business online. Prices will be reduced from now until closing on February 20th. So, stock up while you can!* This correspondent will miss the personal service and wide selection of items.

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) is holding a Scoping Meeting and preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) consistent with New York City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) regulations for the replacement or rehabilitation of the BQE / I-278 from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street. The Draft Scope of Work is available for review online at www.BQE-i278.com and at select public locations, including the Brooklyn Public Library Main Branch. Public comments are requested with respect to matters to be addressed in the DEIS.

During the Public Scoping meeting, a presentation at 5:30 p.m. will be followed by public testimony taken on the Draft Scope of Work. NYCDOT will have two American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at the Scoping Meeting, as well as a Spanish certified translator. These accommodations are intended for individuals with disabilities or language barriers. Any additional requests for special accommodations should be made by Monday, February 19th at 4:00 p.m.

Written comments on the Draft Scope of Work will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 12, 2018. For more information, locations of the Draft Scope of Work, or if any special accommodations are needed, please contact the BQE Project Team during regular business hours or leave a message at 332-999-4520 or info@bqe-i278.com.

Sims Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility (MRF) SIMSs Municipal Recycling is open for tours by appointment Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm. Please select a date and time below to schedule a group or individual visit. All tours offered by Sims are free of charge. The 11-acre Brooklyn facility features a Recycling Education Center, which includes a theater, interactive exhibits, lunch space, and an outdoor patio. Experience the sorting process first-hand from an elevated observation deck inside the plant, above the 800 tons of recyclables processed here each day from across New York City. See sustainability in action with the city’s first commercial-scale wind turbine, native plantings, stormwater management, and marine habitats.

Questions? Need to Join the Waitlist? Contact:
Sam Silver, Education & Outreach Coordinator: sam.silver@simsmm.com, 347-391-3051.
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FYI, a new machine that accepts debit and credit cards has been installed and will be available shortly for your use in the laundry room. You will no longer need cash to add value to your laundry card. (We’re just waiting for the Verizon hook-up.)

It can’t compete with the grandeur of the famous Brooklyn Bridge. No other span can. But the views are really something. There’s a reason savvy sightseers venture out to the middle of the Manhattan Bridge when the temperature’s only 24 degrees. Its pedestrian path offers a peerless perspective of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge as it swoops majestically over the East River. From this vantage point on the Manhattan Bridge, Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park stands in front of one of the Brooklyn Bridge’s stone towers, and the World Trade Center and the Woolworth Building in Lower Manhattan stand behind the Brooklyn Bridge’s other stone tower. From this spot on the Manhattan Bridge’s walkway, the landmarked Empire Stores complex on the shoreline of Brooklyn Bridge Park and the nearby DUMBO Clock Tower can also be seen.

NYC Parks are recycling Christmas trees at locations all over the city. The mulch will be used to “used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide.” Drop your tree during the week or you can bring your tree to Brooklyn Bridge Park or any number of parks this coming weekend and take home a bag of mulch for your own garden. Here are all the details:

When the holiday season is over, don’t let your tree go to waste. Bring it to MulchFest at 99 Plymouth.

You can bring your tree to 99 Plymouth for chipping on January 6 & 7 from 10am to 2pm. Watch your tree get chipped in front of you, and get a free bag of mulch to take home.

Or you can bring your tree to 99 Plymouth for drop off from December 31 through January 7 from 10am-2pm. Leave your tree with us, and we’ll recycle it for you later!

Drop your tree off at the gate behind 99 Plymouth (corner of Plymouth and Adams Streets).

Please remember to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, netting, etc. before bringing it to the drop off site. Trees with decorations will not be accepted.